II. Precautions
- Use pre-prepared solution or filtered, distilled or boiled water (after allowing to cool)
- Household water filters are not sufficient to remove all Microorganisms
- Non-sterilized tap water rinses have been associated with amebic Encephalitis
- Yoder (2012) Clin Infect Dis 55(9): e79-85 [PubMed]
III. Preparations: Commercial
- Saline Nasal Spray (SeaMist, Ocean, Deep Sea)
IV. Preparations: Quick Homemade Recipe
- Mix 1/2 tsp non-Iodized Salt in 8oz warm sterile or distilled water (or boil for 3-5 min)
- Store in empty spray bottle
- Make new solution after 2 days
V. Preparations: Standard Homemade Recipe
- Recipe Ingredients
- 1 qt glass jar
- 1 qt boiled tap (for 3-5 min) or bottled distilled or sterile water
- 2 to 3 heaping teaspoons non-Iodized Salt (Iodine may interfere with cilia function)
- 1 rounded teaspoon Baking Soda
- Recipe Preparation
- Wash, rinse and fill jar with boiled water
- Add Table Salt and Baking Soda
- Stir or shake before each use
- Store in refrigerator and mix fresh batch weekly
- Recipe Modifications
- If the mixture is too strong, reduce salt to 1-2 tsp
- If your nose is dry, add 1 tbsp corn syrup to mix
VI. Technique: Directions for Adults
- Bulbs to Instill Mixture
- Bulb
- Ear Syringe
- Medical Syringe
- Waterpik
- Rinse the nose with the solution 2-3 times daily
- Avoid contaminating stock solution
- Pour mixture into clean bowl
- Do not place syringe back into original solution
- You may warm the mixture to Body Temperature (Not hot!)
- Stand over the sink or shower; squirt into each nostril
- Aim the stream toward the back of the nose
- Use prior to Intranasal Steroid
VII. Technique: Directions for children
- Older children (who can blow nose)
- Instill 3 drops in each nostril while supine prn
- Wait 1 minute, while softens mucus, then blow
- Younger children
- Instill 3 drops each nostril while supine prn
- Wait 1 minute, then use suction bulb
- Seal nares completely with bulb to suction
VIII. Technique: Neti Pot
- Use sterile or distilled water (or boil for 3-5 min)
- Prepare Saline Solution as above or use pre-prepared saline packets
- Position nose by tilting head forward and to one side
- Tilt Neti Pot up and seal to one nostril
- Saline should pour into one nostril and flow out of the other
- Clean Neti Pot with soap and water after each use (allow to completely dry)
- Do not share Neti Pots
IX. Adverse effects
- Mild burning Sensation with first few uses
- Resolves with first few uses
- Amebic Encephalitis (rare, associated with contaminated tap water use)
- See Precautions above (only use filtered, distilled or boiled water)
X. Reference
- (2019) Presc Lett 26(3):15
- Ferguson (1997) J Postgrad Med 101(5): 117-131 [PubMed]